Cavalry or Calvary–A World of Difference
The words cavalry and Calvary look very similar with the same beginning and end and often go undetected with spellcheck when used incorrectly. But there is a world of difference in their meaning and usage.
“The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots’” (Joshua 11:6).
Hamstringing is used primarily to incapacitate a human or animal and render them incapable of effective movement. The severing of the hamstring muscles results not only in the crippling of the leg, but also in pain. Cutting tendons of the legs rendered horses lame and unfit for military service. By this time, God had already forbidden Israel from ever developing a cavalry, because He wanted them to depend upon Him, not the strength of horses.
“The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the Lord has told you, ‘You are not to go back that way again’” (Deut. 17:16).
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord. But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit” (Is. 31:1, 3).
As fearless and strong as a warhorse can be, nothing compares to our God. Trusting in anything less than God Almighty will prove very disappointing. This was true in Joshua’s day, and it’s true for us today. We may not be relying on the strength of horses, but do we look to government to solve our problems? This world’s institutions are deceptive and powerless.
We tread a battlefield every day in this life. Who or what have you placed your hope and trust? Calvary was the supreme battlefield where our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. His victory over death, hell and the grave, still prevails. “And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33 KJV).
God is the only One who can change a heart and make a difference in our world. He is the only One who can make a way where there seems to be no way. Let’s join together and pray for God’s deepest blessings on our nation. We must intercede for our world, nation, state, city, church, family, and our own heart as well with wordless groans that only the Holy Spirit understands (Romans 8:26).
Now is the time to keep our eyes on the eastern sky. Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth. Are you ready? Get your house in order! Adjust your focus to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, and don’t look to horses, people or government. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7). “while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
We choose to place our hope and trust in Jesus Christ and the victory He won on Calvary and not on this world’s cavalry, because there is a world of difference in the two.